The 50-Doctor Poll

Taking the pulse.

Published Jun 10, 2007

Do doctors in general spend enough time with patients?
Yes…. 21
No…. 29

Do you spend enough time with patients?
Yes…. 35
No…. 12
No Response... 3

Who makes better patients, men or women?
Men…. 17
“Men are more stoic.” “Men are more focused.”
Women…. 11
“Women are more compliant with treatment.” “Women are more honest about their symptoms.”
Neither…. 20
Children…. 2
“Children are good listeners.”

How would you rate the health-care system?
Excellent…. 13
Good…. 24
Fair…. 11
Poor…. 2

How would you rate the quality of nursing care?
Excellent…. 8
Good…. 35
Fair…. 5
Poor…. 1
Terrible…. 1

Why did you become a doctor?
(Choose all that apply.)
Wanted to help people…. 44
Loved high-school biology…. 8
Couldn’t think of anything else to do…. 3
Parental pressure…. 2
Wanted social status…. 2
Fascination with blood and guts…. 1
Other: “Job security.”

What’s the best part of being a doctor?
(Choose all that apply.)
The intellectual challenge…. 40
Helping people…. 33
Social status…. 2
Money…. 2

The worst part?
(Choose all that apply.)
The hours…. 30
Hospital politics…. 22
The money…. 9
Cranky patients…. 8
When patients die…. 7
Other doctors’ egos…. 4
Seeing people in pain…. 1

Do you ever get grossed out?
Yes…. 15
No…. 34
No response…. 1
“Bad smells.” “Autopsies.” “Had to remove someone’s eyes because of cancer.”

Do doctors ever get turned on by patients?
Often…. 1
Sometimes…. 22
Never…. 26
No response…. 1

Do doctors and nurses flirt in the operating room?
Often…. 6
Sometimes…. 35
Never…. 6
No response…. 3

What’s your approximate annual salary?
>$50k…. 4
$50k–$99k… 15
$100k–$149k…. 4
$150k–$249k…. 10
$250k–$499k…. 8
$500k–$999k…. 2
<$2m…. 2
No response…. 5

Are doctors paid fairly?
Yes…. 25
No…. 23
No response…. 2

Are you paid fairly?
Yes…. 10
No…. 40

If “undercompensated,” why?
“HMO policies.” “I work 100 hours a week.” “Residents = slave labor.” “The money goes to insurance companies, lawyers, and pharmaceutical companies with good lobbyists.”

Do doctors have God complexes?
Yes…. 28
No…. 22

Do you have a God complex?
Yes….2
No…. 48